Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) August 3, 2024

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE

001-14905

47-0813844

(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION

OF INCORPORATION)

(COMMISSION

FILE NUMBER)

(I.R.S. EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION NO.)


3555 Farnam Street
Omaha, Nebraska		68131
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)		(ZIP CODE)

(402) 346-1400

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbols	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock	BRK.A	New York Stock Exchange
Class B Common Stock	BRK.B	New York Stock Exchange
0.000% Senior Notes due 2025	BRK25	New York Stock Exchange
1.125% Senior Notes due 2027	BRK27	New York Stock Exchange
2.150% Senior Notes due 2028	BRK28	New York Stock Exchange
1.500% Senior Notes due 2030	BRK30	New York Stock Exchange
2.000% Senior Notes due 2034	BRK34	New York Stock Exchange
1.625% Senior Notes due 2035	BRK35	New York Stock Exchange
2.375% Senior Notes due 2039	BRK39	New York Stock Exchange
0.500% Senior Notes due 2041	BRK41	New York Stock Exchange
2.625% Senior Notes due 2059	BRK59	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

ITEM 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On August 3, 2024, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. issued a press release announcing the Company’s earnings for the second quarter and first six months ended June 30, 2024. A copy of this press release is furnished with this report as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.

ITEM 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits


Exhibit 99.1		Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Earnings Release Dated August 3, 2024

Exhibit 104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


August 5, 2024		BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.

		/s/ Marc D. Hamburg
		By: Marc D. Hamburg
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.

NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		August 3, 2024

Omaha, NE (BRK.A; BRK.B) –

Berkshire’s operating results for the second quarter and first six months of 2024 and 2023 are summarized in the following paragraphs. However, we urge investors and reporters to read our 10-Q, which has been posted at www.berkshirehathaway.com. The limited information that follows in this press release is not adequate for making an informed investment judgment.

Earnings of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries for the second quarter and first six months of 2024 and 2023 are summarized below. Earnings are stated on an after-tax basis. (Dollar amounts are in millions, except for per share amounts).


	Second Quarter				First Six Months
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders	$	30,348	$	35,912	$	43,050	$	71,416

Net earnings includes:
Investment gains (losses)		18,750		25,869		20,230		53,308
Operating earnings		11,598		10,043		22,820		18,108

Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders	$	30,348	$	35,912	$	43,050	$	71,416

Net earnings per average equivalent Class A Share	$	21,122	$	24,775	$	29,936	$	49,152
Net earnings per average equivalent Class B Share	$	14.08	$	16.52	$	19.96	$	32.77
Average equivalent Class A shares outstanding		1,436,790		1,449,542		1,438,080		1,452,971
Average equivalent Class B shares outstanding		2,155,185,283		2,174,313,670		2,157,120,209		2,179,456,816

Note: Per share amounts for the Class B shares are 1/1,500^th of those shown for the Class A shares.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) require that we include the changes in unrealized gains (losses) of our equity security investments as a component of investment gains (losses) in our earnings statements. In the table above, investment gains (losses) in 2024 include after-tax realized gains on sales of investments of $47.0 billion in the second quarter and $58.2 billion in the first six months and in 2023 include after-tax realized gains on sales of investments of $1.6 billion in the second quarter and $3.3 billion in the first six months. Investment gains (losses) in 2024 also include losses of $28.2 billion in the second quarter and $37.9 billion in the first six months and in 2023 include gains of $24.2 billion in the second quarter and $47.6 billion in the first six months due to changes during the second quarter and the first six months in the unrealized gains that existed in our equity security investment holdings. In the first six months of 2023 investment gains also include a net remeasurement gain of approximately $2.4 billion related to Berkshire’s acquisition of an additional 41.4% interest in Pilot Travel Centers.

The amount of investment gains (losses) in any given quarter is usually meaningless and delivers figures for net earnings per share that can be extremely misleading to investors who have little or no knowledge of accounting rules.

An analysis of Berkshire’s operating earnings follows (dollar amounts are in millions).


	Second Quarter				First Six Months
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Insurance-underwriting	$	2,263	$	1,247	$	4,861	$	2,158
Insurance-investment income		3,320		2,369		5,918		4,338
BNSF		1,227		1,264		2,370		2,511
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company		655		785		1,372		1,201
Other businesses		3,380		3,503		6,468		6,568
Non-controlled businesses *		220		535		625		1,103
Other **		533		340		1,206		229

Operating earnings	$	11,598	$	10,043	$	22,820	$	18,108

*	Includes certain businesses in which Berkshire had between a 20% and 50% ownership interest.

**	Includes foreign currency exchange gains related to non-U.S. Dollar denominated debt in 2024 of $446 million in the second quarter and $1.04 billion in the first six months and in 2023 $465 million in the second quarter and $448 million in the first six months.

Approximately $345 million was used to repurchase Berkshire shares during the second quarter of 2024, bringing the six-month total to $2.9 billion. On June 30, 2024, there were 1,436,696 Class A equivalent shares outstanding. At June 30, 2024, insurance float (the net liabilities we assume under insurance contracts) was approximately $169 billion.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP figures in accordance with Regulation G are included herein.

Berkshire presents its results in the way it believes will be most meaningful and useful, as well as most transparent, to the investing public and others who use Berkshire’s financial information. That presentation includes the use of certain non-GAAP financial measures. In addition to the GAAP presentations of net earnings, Berkshire shows operating earnings defined as net earnings exclusive of investment and derivative gains (losses) and impairments of goodwill and intangible assets.

Although the investment of insurance and reinsurance premiums to generate investment income and investment gains or losses is an integral part of Berkshire’s operations, the generation of investment gains or losses is independent of the insurance underwriting process. Moreover, as previously described, under applicable GAAP accounting requirements, we are required to include the changes in unrealized gains (losses) of our equity security investments as a component of investment gains (losses) in our periodic earnings statements. In sum, investment gains (losses) for any particular period are not indicative of quarterly business performance.

About Berkshire

Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries engage in diverse business activities including insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing, retailing and services. Common stock of the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading symbols BRK.A and BRK.B.

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those forecasted.

— END —

Contact

Marc D. Hamburg

402-346-1400

Document and Entity Information	Aug. 03, 2024
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001067983
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Aug. 03, 2024
Entity File Number	001-14905
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-0813844
Entity Address, Address Line One	3555 Farnam Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Omaha
Entity Address, State or Province	NE
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	68131
City Area Code	(402)
Local Phone Number	346-1400
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Class 160 A Common Stock [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	Class A Common Stock
Trading Symbol	BRK.A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Class 160 B Common Stock [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	Class B Common Stock
Trading Symbol	BRK.B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 0.000 Senior Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	0.000% Senior Notes due 2025
Trading Symbol	BRK25
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 1.125 Senior Notes Due 2027 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	1.125% Senior Notes due 2027
Trading Symbol	BRK27
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 2.150 Senior Notes Due 2028 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	2.150% Senior Notes due 2028
Trading Symbol	BRK28
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 1.500 Senior Notes Due 2030 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	1.500% Senior Notes due 2030
Trading Symbol	BRK30
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 2.000 Senior Notes Due 2034 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	2.000% Senior Notes due 2034
Trading Symbol	BRK34
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 1.625 Senior Notes Due 2035 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	1.625% Senior Notes due 2035
Trading Symbol	BRK35
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 2.375 Senior Notes Due 2039 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	2.375% Senior Notes due 2039
Trading Symbol	BRK39
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 0.500 Senior Notes Due 2041 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	0.500% Senior Notes due 2041
Trading Symbol	BRK41
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 2.625 Senior Notes Due 2059 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	2.625% Senior Notes due 2059
Trading Symbol	BRK59
Security Exchange Name	NYSE